A high-quality alternative to leather handbags is hard to find and time will soon reveal if your choice was worth it or not. London-based and sustainable brand, The Morphbag by GSK, redefines fashion handbags with its timeless and versatile design concept.

Luxury textile designer, Araminta Campbell, a leader in her field launches her alpaca line as part of the Heritage collection, showcasing how luxury can be both stylish and sustainable at the same time.

Born to perform - thanks to its theatrical founders - AKT, an upmarket natural deodorant, is hitting all the right notes as it secures £1.5 million in funding from Stonebridge, the digital-first consumer brand investment firm headed up by DTC entrepreneur James Cox. 

A cool breeze on bare skin in summer, a warm hug in winter. Linen is the fabric chosen by Marta Cernovskaja for her brand Lemuel MC with sustainability and transparency at its core.

Fast Fashion is so last season, meet Aqua & Rock a high-quality premium sustainable fashion and lifestyle brand.

Their motto ‘Where ethical meets aesthetic’ hits the spot. Too often people still associate sustainability with strong limitations and unsightliness. Aqua & Rock surely prove this to be a false prejudice.

If you think sustainable fashion must have a dated aesthetic and cannot possibly look stunning and modern without any compromise, then read on to get to know this brand and pay their new flagship store in Covent Garden a visit when your interest is sparked.

An interior collection consisting of lamps and vases uses naturally sourced materials. All items are one of a kind due to the variable key components of wood grain, natural sand, clay and alpine hay, which naturally do not appear uniform. Furthermore, they are carefully crafted by hand.

This store is unique, since every little detail, down to the lamps, hangers and even drinks is produced 100% sustainable and guilt-free, reflecting the genuine dedication and passion behind the brand. Aqua & Rock was established in 2019 and has been driving forward innovative concepts for ethical fashion ever since. Everybody is more than eager to put a ‘sustainable’ stamp on their clothes now with younger generations, especially Gen Z becoming ever more aware of shortcomings and accordingly concerned about our planet’s future. 'Green washing’ developed to become a huge issue. Customers are getting blatantly misinformed about the background of their goods and continue to shop with a false sense of righteousness. We all know those high street companies for instance, that suddenly hop on the bandwagon by realising an allegedly sustainable line when we honestly ask ourselves: who are they trying to fool? Huge fast-fashion retailers aim to transform their il repute, however, in the end, merely a minority can really state that their company meets the necessary regulations in all areas. Founder Dea Baker and her team instead showcase what true passion and competence in the industry can look like. That is why they also deservedly won the award for “Innovator” of the year at the Drapers Independent Awards 2021 this September.

The Blue Thetis Trench Coat pictured at the front is a centrepiece of the 2021 collection. It incorporates wooden buckles and is made from 100% organic cotton.

Each piece of the latest collection is designed to be ‘seasonless’, so it can be reworked according to season and mood. Not only can they be either composted, recycled or biodegraded, but also include the use of fertiliser to support organic farming. The main concept is based upon a bio-circular model with four components, them being: organic, natural, recycled, and upcycled. All the resources like wood, hay, leaves, cotton, hemp, and flowers are organically grown. Wood, aloe vera, cotton, hemp, wool, as well as the colouring are naturally sourced. Existing materials are updated and reinvented within the upcycling process.

The model is designed to avoid the use of chemicals during manufacturing. Aqua & Rock have even created their own sustainable fabric dubbed 'Aqua Triblend', which is inspired by the French riviera. Among organic cotton, it incorporates recycled plastic and upcycled clothing. With overwhelming numbers regarding beef consumption, the brand saves the by-product of the meat industry from organic farms. Thereby, waste that otherwise would hit the landfill sites is further minimised.

According to Baker this variant of recycled leather is even more sustainable than buying vegan leather, which many people would never assume.

And that is by far not all, since the leather is going through a 'Wet-White' process it is completely free of chrome and other harmful chemicals. So, it is not only better for mother nature, but also for our own bodies. Due to this way of production the Ecotan leather items can be sent to their organic fertiliser partners. After being turned into organic fertiliser it is then used to fertilise fields and plants on organic farms, resulting in the regrowth of organic harm-free vegetation. In being reverted back to nature the bio circle is closed, ending where we started, the animal, which can gaily graze on these natural fields again.

The collection has been designed and produced in the UK, no sweatshops or underpaid labour included in any form, that the customer can be certain of. All pieces of the 2021 collection come in muted colour tones like brown, mint, white, and crème, all easy on the eyes and extremely versatile, giving customers lots of room for creative combining.

British musician Elle L gave the attendees an exclusive glimpse into her new single 'Hoping'. She took on the role of first brand ambassador because she is personally very passionate about the subject in all areas of her life and wants to advocate for less waste. As a public figure, she feels like having a responsibility to inform and positively influence others to have an impact on a larger scale and act as a role model for younger people. She aims to actively contribute to 'leaving a legacy for future generations' by not only talking about it but committing to an accordingly lifestyle.

Fashions Finest thinks this store is a great addition to the Covent Garden area and will hopefully attract lots of new customers to join forces with for a better world. Supporting this goal by shopping for beautiful clothes does sound dreamy, right? Yes, it is actually that easy to partake and conduce a little bit. Maybe this shop will be a starting point for some people to become more immersed and engaged in sustainability in other areas of their everyday life as well. Aqua & Rock officially opened their doors on the 27th of September, a visit is not only highly recommended but a must for everyone interested in sustainability and all its facets. The power for real change lies in our consumer behaviour, supply and demand regulate the market after all and progressive brands like Aqua & Rock are successfully leading the way in a current turnover. The aim does not have to be a Utopia!

Candice Brathwaite, face of Oxford Street and its #BEYONDNOW campaign, arrives in stores with her sustainable capsule collection featuring 30 of the most loved brands from Oxford Street.

Candice Brathwaite’s #BEYONDNOW Edit is now available in stores, an A/W 2021 capsule collection with selected pieces from 30 Oxford Street high street brands. The collaboration inspires a positive approach to shopping and fashion.

Candice Brathwaite’s edit is a 54-piece capsule collection using products from the responsible and conscious collections of 30 Oxford Street brands. The collaborative collection is curated into nine 9 Autumn/Winter looks all available in-store on Oxford Street. Oxford Street BEYOND NOW is the destination’s first sustainable awareness initiative showcasing the positive changes that some of the UK’s most beloved high street brands are making to create a brighter future for our high street and how we shop.

Look 1

Urban Outfitters, BDG Recycled Denim Jacket, 200 Oxford Street, £56
Nike Air Force 1 Crater Flyknit Trainers, 236 Oxford Street, £69.95
Ganni Dress part of Selfridges Planet Earth Collection, 400 Oxford Street, £205
Pandora Brilliance Collection Lab Grown Teardrop Diamond Bracelet, 257/259 Oxford Street, £250

Look 2

John Lewis & Partners Sustainable and Traceable Cashmere Jumper, 300 Oxford Street, £99
Zara Join Life Wrap Skirt, 333 Oxford Street, £29.99
Adidas Vegan Stan Smiths from Schuh, 200 Oxford Street, £75
H.Samuel Diamond Story 18ct White Gold Diamond Ring, 250 Oxford Street, £1,699
Pandora Brilliance Collection Lab Grown Diamond Earrings, 257/259 Oxford Street, £690

Look 3

H&M Conscious Knit Dress Made With Certified Recycled Materials, 174-175 Oxford Street, £34.99
Ganni Recycled Chelsea Boots Part Of Selfridges Planet Earth, 400 Oxford Street, £195
Acne Studios Vally Checked Wool Scarf Part Of Selfridges Planet Earth, £220
Swatch Big Bold BIOCERAMIC Watch, 313 Oxford Street, £108
John Lewis & Partners Matt & Nat Recycled Vegan Cross Body, 300 Oxford Street, £65
H&M Conscious Earrings, 174-175 Oxford Street, £5.99

Look 4

River Island Hoodie Made From Organic & Recycled Materials, 473 Oxford Street, £38
River Island New Leaf Mid Rise Jean, £42
Teva Sandals From Schuh With REPREVE® Polyester Yarn By Unified And Recycled Plastic Webbing, 200 Oxford Street, £60
Parley For The Oceans Clean Waves Sunglasses From Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, £200
H&M Conscious Rings, 174-175 Oxford Street £6.99
H&M Conscious Hair Clips, 174-175 Oxford Street, £3.99
Lush Zig Zag Knot Wrap, 175-179 Oxford Street, £4

Look 5

Sandro Dress Part Of Selfridges Project Earth Collection, 400 Oxford St, £359
John Lewis Trench Coat Supporting BCI Cotton Farmers, 300 Oxford St, £99
Tezenis Paris Recycled Microfibre Balconette Bra, 266-270 Oxford St, £14.99
VEJA Womens V-10 Logo Embroidered Leather Trainers, Part Of Selfridges Project Earth Collection, 400 Oxford St, £125
Monica Vinader Earrings, Part Of Selfridges Project Earth Collection, 400 Oxford St, £140
H&M Ring, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £2.99
H&M Patterned Scarf, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £6.99

Look 6

Mango Printed Cotton Top And Skirt Part Of The Committed Collection. 225-235 Oxford St, Top £19.99 And Skirt £29.99
Urban Outfitters Vintage Leather Blazer, Part Of Urban Renewal Collection, 200 Oxford St, £99
Adidas Gazelle Shoes, Part Of The Adidas Sustainable Collection Available From Schuh, 200 Oxford St, £70
H&M Bag, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £17.99
H&M Necklace, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £3.99
Tezenis Short Ribbed Recycled Cotton Socks, 266 Oxford St, £6.99

Look 7

Whistles Speckled Animal Skirt, Part Of Selfridges Project Earth Collection, 400 Oxford St, £59
Selfridges ROOP Satin Bag, Part Of Project Earth Collection, 400 Oxford St, £75
Selfridges Frame Cashmere Jumper, Part Of Project Earth Collection, 400 Oxford St, £350
H&M Earrings, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £12.99
H&M Grey Headband, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £9.99
Converse Khaki Run Star Hike Recycled Hi Trainers, Available From Schuh, 200 Oxford St, £90

Look 8

United Colors Of Benetton Pattern Dress, Made With 100% Sustainable Materials, 89 Oxford St, £59.95
New Balance 998 Remade in Pink, 287-291 Oxford St, £200
Uniqlo Recycled Jacket, 311 Oxford St, £79.90
Swatch Big Bold BIOCERAMIC, 313 Oxford St, £108
H&M Earring Crawler, Part Of The Conscious Collection, 174-176 Oxford St, £3.99
Timberland Allington Boots With Rebotl ™ Fabric Lining & Recycled PET Laces. From Schuh 200 Oxford St, £120

Look 9

H&M Conscious Ribbed Knit Dress, 174-176 Oxford St, £39.99
H&M Conscious Patterned Scarf, 174-175 Oxford Street £6.99
H&M Conscious Hat, 174-176 Oxford St, £19.99
All Saints Coat, Part Of The Selfridges Project Earth, 400 Oxford St, £379
H&M Conscious Necklace, 174-175 Oxford Street £12.99
Acne Studios Cross Body Bag, Part Of Selfridges Project Earth, 400 Oxford St, £850

You can mix and match the selected pieces or steal a complete look from Candice Brathwaite's BEYOND NOW Edit capsule collection. It makes a small but relevant change in your style and fashion habits.

Find further information about the campaign online or discover more on Oxford Street Instagram page.

'Beauty sleep' is not a buzzword nor a luxury. Sleeping is crucial for our mental and physical regeneration, to feel great inside and out. Women seem to struggle particularly with insomnia. Hopefully, aromatherapy can help.

Oxford Street with fashion author and presenter Candice Brathwaite announces the launch of BEYOND NOW, the first sustainable initiative that sets to make a change in the way we shop our favourite high street brands.

Brummie womenswear brand Roman has something new for you and the special girl in your life. Its latest collection is made for adults and kids and is called, not by chance, 'Mini Me'. Perfect for these summer days, 'Mini Me' is a fresh line of bold and girly coordinated outfits for moms and daughters.

grüum, Manchester-based skincare and haircare brand, launched a new range of sustainable wash bags to help fighting ocean pollution thanks to a toiletry essential.